Webster: the 17-year-old male is not charged with firing the gun

A 17-year-old male juvenile has been charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, resisting arrest, and obstruction in connection to the shooting incident near the Asbury Park High School Wednesday afternoon, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Charlie Webster said.

The juvenile was not charged with firing the weapon, he said.

Webster also said, there were no gunshot victims and no ballistic evidence was found at the scene.

The shooting incident, which occurred near 2:25 p.m. Wednesday, coincided with a physical altercation between two young males, Webster said.

“Following dismissal of the Asbury Park High School, a fight occurred between two young males on Sunset Avenue,” Webster said in a written statement. “During the fight, several gunshots were fired by an unidentified individual who was not a direct participant in the altercation. The gunfire seemingly caused the fight to stop and all parties fled the area.”

Asbury Park Police responded to assist the on duty School Resource Officer [SRO] and the high school was immediately placed on lock down as a precautionary measure for any students that remained in the building.

During the immediate onsite investigation, an officer located a male high school student in the backyard of a nearby property, Webster said. The juvenile fled the scene upon being alerted to the officer’s presence and discarded a handgun in the process.

While he was not immediately apprehended, the officer recognized him, Webster said.

The investigation is being conducted by the Asbury Park Police Department with assistance from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.